Mary Tyler Moore: Career in pictures

Mary Tyler Moore

Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times

Mary Tyler Moore cemented her status as one of the great television actresses of all time with two timeless hits: "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Since then, she's become known for her guest roles, as well as for her extensive charity work. Moore was born in 1936 in Brooklyn Heights, but her family moved to Los Angeles when she was 8 years old. As a teenager, she aspired to be a dancer and appeared in several commercials at the beginning of her career.

Mary Tyler Moore cemented her status as one of the great television actresses of all time with two timeless hits: "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Since then, she's become known for her guest roles, as well as for her extensive charity work. Moore was born in 1936 in Brooklyn Heights, but her family moved to Los Angeles when she was 8 years old. As a teenager, she aspired to be a dancer and appeared in several commercials at the beginning of her career. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Moore auditioned to play Danny Thomas' daughter on "The Danny Thomas Show" but didn't land the part. However, Thomas later remembered her and recommended her for a role on another sitcom he was producing, "The Dick Van Dyke Show," based on creator Carl Reiner's time as a comedy writer for "Your Show of Shows." When Moore joined the series, playing Laura Petrie, the wife of Dick Van Dyke's Rob Petrie, she was just 23 years old -- 11 years younger than Van Dyke. The role made Moore a star and earned her two Emmy Awards.

Moore auditioned to play Danny Thomas' daughter on "The Danny Thomas Show" but didn't land the part. However, Thomas later remembered her and recommended her for a role on another sitcom he was producing, "The Dick Van Dyke Show," based on creator Carl Reiner's time as a comedy writer for "Your Show of Shows." When Moore joined the series, playing Laura Petrie, the wife of Dick Van Dyke's Rob Petrie, she was just 23 years old -- 11 years younger than Van Dyke. The role made Moore a star and earned her two Emmy Awards. (CBS Photo Archive / Getty Images)